Why was the Stuka so effective?

Like the Slow-But-Deadly Douglas SBD, the Stuka turned out to be a superb anti-shipping weapon. Stuka pilots quickly learned to attack from astern, so they could easily follow a ship’s evasive actions. They often dived on a ship at a 45- degree angle and fired their machine guns as a telltale.

Who was the best dive-bomber of ww2?

Douglas SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was sturdy enough for pilots to dive at a near-vertical 80 degrees. The US Navy’s primary dive-bomber at the war’s start, the bomber earned its reputation—and helped earn victory—at the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking four Japanese carriers.

How did the Stuka dive-bomber work?

The Stuka was designed to employ the dive-bombing technique developed earlier by the U.S. Navy—i.e., diving on the target at a steep angle and releasing the bombs at low altitude for maximum accuracy before breaking away.

What were some problems with the Stuka dive bombers?

The Stuka’s precision made it a deadly anti-ship weapon. Stukas sank most of the Polish Navy, crippled two cruisers and destroyed several Allied destroyers and sloops and during the invasion of Norway, and harried vessels evacuating Allied troops at Dunkirk.

Was Stukas accurate?

It was accurate, but in general not *that* accurate. Under good conditions in training, it might have a CEP of 50m or so, i.e. half the bombs land within a 50m radius of the target. In combat conditions, watching out for enemy fighters and anti-aircraft fire, it’s going to be worse.

Was the P 47 a good fighter?

The P-47 proved to be a formidable fighter-bomber due to its good armament, heavy bomb load and ability to survive enemy fire. The P-47’s survivability was due in part to its radial piston engine, which unlike comparable liquid-cooled engines, had a high tolerance for damage.

How effective was the Stuka dive bomber?

Though sturdy, accurate, and very effective against ground targets, the Stuka was, like many other dive bombers of the period, vulnerable to fighter aircraft. Once the Luftwaffe lost air superiority, the Stuka became an easy target for enemy fighter-aircraft. It was produced until 1944 for lack of a better replacement.

Why was the Stuka so important in WWII?

But the Stuka was more than just a terror weapon – its ability to deliver bombs where needed with then unheard of precision made it a potent war machine that crippled the defenders of both Poland and France. In fact, the Ju 87 was a critical contributor to Axis victory in a number of campaigns in the war’s opening years.

What was the name of the German dive bomber?

The Sirens of Death – 11 Amazing Facts About the Ju 87 Stuka. Junkers Ju 87 Sturzkampfflugzeug (“dive bomber”) or Stuka for short was the most famous German ground attack aircraft of World War Two.

What was the maximum speed of a Stuka?

Before a bombing run, Stuka crews were required to go through a dizzying checklist that included the following steps: As soon as the dive brakes were activated, the Stuka’s nose would automatically turn down and the plane would begin its descent. The maximum dive-speed was 600 km/h (373 mph).

Who was the best German Stuka ace of WW2?

Germany boasted a number of Stuka “aces”. Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the most successful Ju 87 pilot of the war and was the lone recipient of Germany’s Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Ironically, the decorated ace was considered a lacklustre pilot earlier in his career.